The Sneak Attack - Quick Tip on Finding the Right Shop

I was allllll geared up to sponsor a SNEAK ATTACK on Etsy (see previous post). But I've been having a heck of a time finding a shop that meets the requirements. I didn't think it would be that challenging - I thought I would just browse Etsy in the categories I'm interested in and eventually I would come upon a shop to sponsor!

The shop needs to have fewer than 4 sales and more than 14 items listed, with some of those items being $10 or under. It also should be at least a couple weeks old and have some positive feedback from either a few sales or purchases. They also cannot have another, more successful Etsy shop. Well, let me tell you, it's not so easy to find all of these in one shop.

Finally (and maybe I'm just spectacularly slow and everyone has already thought of this) I realized using the Pounce feature for Undiscovered Shops is the best way to start. Go to the Etsy home page. On the left, under the Categories section, you'll see the Explore column. Click on Pounce. Make sure to select "Undiscovered" vs. "Just Sold" (the one selected will show up in color vs. grey). Then just click the POUNCE button!

You can immediately tell how many items the shop has, when it was started, and because the shop is undiscovered, you know automatically it has had no sales. Three requirements in one quick look.

Then you can open up the shops that fit those three criteria, and scan for the other requirements (price range, feedback, and other owned shops, which are usually mentioned in the shop announcement).

Viola! Just like that, you can quickly scan shops for eligibility! I've found several great shops this way and I'm excited to become a sponsor!

SNEAK ATTACK!

I've just learned of this wonderful thing happening on Etsy - if you don't know about Etsy already... well where have you been? :) Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy handmade items as well as craft/art supplies and vintage items. Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/

Anyway, I've just read about this thing called the SNEAK ATTACK. Put on by The Handmade Movement and "hosted" by a volunteer shopkeeper, they stage an attack on a new Etsy shop and swarm them with surprise business! Check out the website at http://www.thehandmademovement.com/

The truly amazing thing about this is the sense of community it creates. If you're an artist, you know how difficult it is to put your stuff out there, to either watch people walk by at shows or check your online store every day hoping..... I especially remember my first shows, those first months on Etsy. You start to question your art, yourself, you get discouraged. I know a few times I thought I should just quit altogether. Then things start picking up and you dust yourself off... Imagine the boost in confidence to a just-starting artist to get a bunch of sales and positive feedback!

I think it's so important, especially in this economy, to encourage artists to continue doing what they do. So, participate by either buying from the SNEAK ATTACK "victim" (if you can't buy, go to the shop and leave positive feedback) or if you're an Etsy seller, volunteer to host an attack! The website will give you details on how to do this. I'm going to volunteer right now...

Spread the word! The SNEAK ATTACK is on!